Are Agile Memes Too True To Be Funny - Jan Neudecker
Details
About the Session
Memes make us laugh, but inside teams
they can be more than jokes. When memes
show up often, they are usually signs of
frustration, tension, or disengagement, the
things people may not say out loud. For a
Scrum Master this is an early warning
system that inspection and adaptation may
not be happening openly, and humour has
become the safer outlet.
The session starts with the theory behind
memes, how they emerge, spread, and
combine into memeplexes, clusters of
reinforcing ideas that shape culture and
behaviour. From there we will look at popular
agile memes, explore the frustrations that
created them, and discuss their likely root
causes such as overcommitment, missing
feedback, or unsafe retrospectives.
By the end of this session, participants will:
1. Recognize that frequent meme sharing in teams is a
cultural signal that points to unspoken frustration or
disengagement.
2. Understand how individual memes can form a
memeplex, a cluster of reinforcing beliefs and
narratives that shape team behaviour and influence
culture.
3. Analyse popular agile memes to uncover their likely
root causes, such as lack of safety, overcommitment,
or missing user feedback.
4. Learn a simple path to move from recognition to
action: noticing the signal, naming it without blame,
and opening a safe conversation for change.
5. Leave with one clear idea to apply immediately in
their context to transform
About the Speaker
Jan boasts over a decade of experience as an Agile Coach and Scrum Trainer, during which he has gained diverse expertise across a variety of environments. From start-ups to international corporations, he has successfully guided teams and organisations in developing products using agile approaches that truly delight users.
Throughout his career as a Certified Scrum Trainer® and Agile Academy Ambassador, Jan has empowered nearly 2,000 individuals to skilfully integrate agile methods into their workflow. His training and coaching sessions are known for their practical relevance and high level of interactivity.
Jan actively gives back to the Agile community, which has played a significant role in his own growth. He currently serves as the User Group Host for Agile Monday Rhein-Neckar in Mannheim and contributes to shaping Global Scrum Gatherings. In addition, he has lectured at various universities across Germany.
Personal life: Outside of his professional work, Jan is a dedicated father who enjoys spending quality time with his family. He is also an avid cyclist, finding both challenge and inspiration on two wheels.